Folding crate.



S. W. STALNAKER.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1913.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

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SALATl-IIEL WISE STALNAKER, OF FLATWOOIDS, WEST VIRGINIA.

romaine CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed July 23, 1913. Serial No. 780,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SALATHIEL WISE STALNAKER, a citizen of the United States,

residing at l lat Woods, in the county of BraXton and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in folding crates, poultry coops and the like and has for its primary object to provide a crate which may be very easily and quickly folded so that the same can be compactly arranged for convenience in transportation.

The invention has for a further object the provision of an improved form of latch device to support the fold-able sectionsof the crate in their erect positions and to also retain the same in their superposed collapsed position.

The invention has for still another object to generally improve and simplify the con struction of devices of this character, to increase their durability and serviceability in actual use and to produce a crate or coop which can be manufactured at small cost.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate or coop illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the crate, folded. Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the bottom of a coop or crate which is provided upon the under side thereof and at its opposite ends with the transverse cleats 6. To the longitudinal edges of this bottom, the bars or cleats 7 are socured. Upon the upper edges of these longitudinal bars, the side walls 8 of the-crate are hinged as indicated at 9.

10 designates the end members of the crate structure which are hinged directly to the upper surface of the bottom 5 as shown at 11. Each of the side and end members of the crate consists of a rectangular frame the .21 provided in the end of the longitudinal bars of which are connectedby means of the spacedvertical rods 12. These rods in the end members of the crate project above the upper longitudinal bars thereof as indicated at 12 for a purpose which will be later referred to.

The top 13 of the crate also consists of a rectangular frame, the end bars thereof being connected by the additional longitudinally extending spaced bars 14. These bars as .well as the outer side bars of the top frame are connected by a pluarlity of spaced rods 15 upon one of which a door 16 is loosely mounted. This door is provided with a resilient catch rod 17 which is fixed at one end to said door and is adapted for engagement at its other end wit-h one of the transverse rods 15 to hold said door in its closed position. The end bars of the top 13 are provided with spaced openings 18 which correspond in number with the number of rods 12 in the ends 10 of the crate. By providing the longtiudinal bars 7 upon which the sides of the crate are mounted, it will be noted that the upper longitudinal bars of said sides extend above the ends of the crate. The top 18 is adapted to be placed between the side members 8, the upwardly extending ends 12 of the rods 12 in the ends of the crate being received in the openings 18. Thus the top 18 serves to hold the ends in their erect positions and the top in turn is held against longitudinal shifting movement. 1

To each end of each of the side members 8, a resilient catch member 19 is fixed at one of its ends. This member is provided with a loop or bend 20 in its other end which is adapted for engagement in a notch or recess top 13. It will thus be seen that when the crate is set up in use, all of the sections thereof are securely held against collapse. When it is desired to fold the crate, the catch members are released from engagement with the top section and said top section is removed. The ends of the crate are then folded inwardly upon the bottom thereof and the top 13 is placed upon the end sections, the longitudinal side bars of said top frictionally engaging the knuckles of the hinges 9 which connect the sides 8 to the longitudinal bars 7 so that said top member cannot shift longitudinally.

The side members 8 of the crate are then' folded inwardly upon the top 13, the loops 20 of the catch members 19 on the side members engagin beneath the end bars of the top 13, and securely holding the side members in their folded positions. It Will thus be seen that the several sections of the crate are very compactly arranged so that a large number ofcrates can be conveniently transported.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner of operation of my improved folding crate or coop Will be clearly and fully understood.

The device is simple and durable in its construction, highly convenient and serviceable in practical use and maybe manufactured at small cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the seve'ralparts, it will be obvious that the invention is susceptible of considerable modificationin the form, proportion and arrangement thereof Without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages of tlie same.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimedis: a

' A folding crate or coop comprising a bottom, side and end sections hingedly mounted upon said bottom, said side and end sections each consisting of a rectangular frame,

rods connecting the longitudinal bars of said frame, the rods of the end sections projecting above the top bars thereof, a top section provided with openings in its opposite ends to receive the projecting rods of the end sections whereby said ends are supported in their erect positions and the top held against longitudinal movement, said top section being further provided in its opposite ends and adjacent its longitudinal edges with recesses, and catch members carried by the side sections to engage in said recesses and retain the parts in their erect positions, said end sections being foldable upon the bottom of the crate, and the top section adapted for arrangement upon the end sections to frictionally engage the hinges of the side sections, said side sections being foldable inwardly upon said top section and the catches of said side sections engaging the endsof the top section to retain the parts in their collapsed positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SALATHIEL WISE STALNAKER.

Witnesses:

H. O. SKIDMORE, O. M. NnELY.

if'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. Cl 

